Sustainable timber and deforestation

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 25 Jul 2022 Closed: 9 May 2024 Parliament page
The Environmental Audit Committee is launching a new inquiry into sustainable timber in the UK and the UK’s contribution to global deforestation. The inquiry will investigate how the UK, which imports most of its timber, can best scale up a sustainable, resilient domestic timber sector and reduce its reliance on … Read more
49 Recommendations
50 Conclusions
2 Reports
6 Oral sessions
5 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 21 events
9 May
2024
Correspondence
26 Mar
2024
Report published
4 Jan
2024
Report published
15 Dec
2023
Report published
19 Jul
2023
Report published
13 Jun
2023
Correspondence
13 Jun
2023
Correspondence
5 Jun
2023
Correspondence
27 Apr
2023
Correspondence
29 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
29 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
1 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
29 Mar 2023
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panel one; panel two
Maggie Charnley · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Sir William Worsley · Forestry Commission The Rt Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Trudy Harrison · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Mar 2023
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panel one; panel two
Andrew Howard · Schroders Danielle Carreira · Tropical Forest Alliance, World Economic Forum Dr Constance McDermott · University of Oxford Duncan Brack · n/a Helen Bellfield · Global Canopy Ligia Baracat · Forest Peoples Programme
7 Dec 2022
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panel one; panel two
Ben Goh · Maelor Forest Nurseries David Hopkins · Timber Development UK Dr Andrew Weatherall · Institute of Chartered Foresters Dr Mike Morecroft · Natural England Graham Clark · Country Land and Business Association Justin Mumford · Institute of Chartered Foresters Professor David Coomes · University of Cambridge
9 Nov 2022
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panel one
Alexandria Reid · Global Witness Dr Chris West · Stockholm Environment Institute York Michael Rice · Client Earth Sir Ian Cheshire · Channel 4
2 Nov 2022
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Panel 1
Dr Alan Knight · Drax Group Professor Michael Norton · European Academies Science Advisory Council Professor Patricia Thornley · Aston University
26 Oct 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Andrew Carpenter · Structural Timber Association Dr Alan Knight · Drax Group Ian Tubby · Forestry Commission Nick Phillips · Woodland Trust Professor Michael Norton · European Academies Science Advisory Council Professor Patricia Thornley · Aston University Stuart Goodall · Confederation of Forest Industries UK
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
12 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for…
Require Forestry England to publish a clear plan to meet woodland target
Decisive action and a clear delivery plan are required for Forestry England to meet its target of planting 2,000 hectares of new woodland by 2026. We recommend that a plan be prepared by the end of October 2023 and published … Read more
Government Response
The government stated Forestry England is confident in meeting its woodland creation target and provided updated planting figures, but did not commit to preparing or publishing a specific delivery plan by October 2023 as recommended.
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32 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for…
Resource Forestry England appropriately to ensure new woodland compliance with UKFS throughout its lifetime.
The Government aims to increase tree-cover expansion at rates not seen for decades in order to deliver a range of ecosystem service benefits. To ensure that these benefits are realised, and to deliver the Government’s vision for increased woodland cover, … Read more
Government Response
The government's response highlights that Forestry England uses independent certification schemes that exceed UKFS requirements to demonstrate sustainable management, but it does not address the recommendation to review and ensure appropriate resourcing for UKFS compliance.
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34 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for…
Urgently review Forestry England's resources to ensure sufficient capacity for UKFS compliance.
We further recommend that the Forestry Commission urgently review the resources available to Forestry England so as to ensure that it has sufficient resources to ensure the compliance of woodlands with the UKFS. (Paragraph 166) 80 Seeing the wood for … Read more
Government Response
The government's response highlights that Forestry England uses independent certification schemes that exceed UKFS requirements to demonstrate sustainable management, but it does not address the recommendation to urgently review resources available to Forestry England for UKFS compliance.
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48 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for…
Conduct impact assessment of active forest management on UK climate and biodiversity commitments
We recommend that the Government conduct an impact assessment of the effects on the delivery the UK’s climate and biodiversity commitments of bringing a higher proportion of existing forests into active management. (Paragraph 229) 82 Seeing the wood for the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the benefits of active forest management for domestic biomass supply and highlights existing grant schemes, but does not address the recommendation to conduct an impact assessment of its effects on climate and biodiversity commitments.
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Government Response AI assessment · 99 of 49 classified
Accepted 43
Accepted in Part 10
Acknowledged 23
Deferred 16
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 3
Total 49 recs + 50 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
9 May 2024 To committee Letter from the EAC Chair to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to the Government's response to the EAC report on 'The UK’s contribution to tackling global deforestation', dated 8 May 2024
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Energy, Climate and the Environment, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, relating to the 'Status of UK International Climate Finance (ICF) International Forests Provision', dated 30 May 2023
Parliament page
13 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister for Natural Environment and Land Use, Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, relating to the 'Sustainable timber and deforestation' inquiry, dated 1 June 2023
Parliament page
5 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Chairman of the Forestry Commission, relating to the Sustainable timber and deforestation inquiry, dated 11 April 2023
Parliament page
27 Apr 2023 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Natural Environment and Land Use) at DEFRA, relating to the 'Sustainable timber and deforestation' evidence session of 29 March 2023, dated 17 April 2023
Parliament page